Awarded to the attorney who has devoted expertise and time to changing the justice system to promote access and opportunity for those most vulnerable.

Nominations are due March 15th and are to include the individual's name; firm if applicable; address & other contact information; the award for which they are being nominated and contact information of the nominators; a summary of their characteristics, experiences, and service that qualifies them for the award; and support letters from others may be included. The nomination packets should be sent to The Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education, ATTN: Kevin S. Ruegg, 4201 N. 24th Street, Suite 210, Phoenix, AZ 85016 or fax to (602)271.4930.

Awards Acknowledged in conjunction with the Foundation participation in the annual Arizona State Bar Convention.

2009 Award

Mike Valder has a long history of fighting for justice. As a law clerk in the late 60s, Mike served as pro bono counsel for 19 community groups in the greater Philadelphia area. He also volunteered as criminal defense lawyer under the Criminal Justice Act, and represented a photographer assaulted by police and arrested during a Vietnam demonstration at the Watergate apartments. He then went on to develop curriculum for training public interest and legal service attorneys.

After moving to Arizona, he was instrumental in developing landmark litigation involving such issues as equitable funding for public schools in economically depressed school districts, adequate state funding for the care of seriously mental ill patients, and a variety of environmental justice issues.

After being involved with Phoenix Youth at Risk and Threshold Foundation, Mike and his wife Janet started the Arizona Social Change Fund. Before they closed the fund in 2008, they had granted over $400,000 in support of systemic social change projects by grassroots non-profit community organizations that address root causes of social, economic, and environmental injustice.

Mike continues to be President of the Arizona Advocacy Network and consults with clients and lawyers on a part-time basis.

2008 Award

Comm. Frederic Dardis has devoted his career to assuring that the courts are available to all who need them. Immediately after his swearing in, Comm. Dardis began work on many innovative pro bono initiatives that have since become permanent fixtures in our legal community. There initiatives link vital partners including the court, the law school, the VLP, and funders. The first of these initiatives, the Child Support Project, was launched in 2001. Through the project, volunteer attorneys supervise law students as they meet with unrepresented litigants prior to final divorce hearings in Superior Court. Comm. Dardis and the Family Law Bench volunteer their time to train law students for the Child Support Project. He then set his sights on probate court and in 2005 launched a Guardianship of Minor Project. Under the supervision of a volunteer attorney, students meet with unrepresented clients at their guardianship hearings and offered their recommendations to court as to whether the client should be awarded a guardianship. In addition to his tangible contributions in the fields of pro bono and access to the courts, Comm. Dardis also provides strength, wisdom, and support to the VLP staff on a daily basis. These immeasurable gifts are treasured assets and the secret to the program’s success.

2007 Award

Keith Perkins started the Never Again Foundation in 2001 with the vision to "Never Again deny victims of crime civil justice; Never Again allow abusers to avoid financial accountability; and Never Again fail to send a strong message of prevention and deterrence to society." The Never Again Foundation provides free civil representation for women, children and senior citizens who have been victims of physical or sexual abuse in civil actions directly against their abusers. It is the first organization of its kind in the nation and services are free to the victims who receive 100% of the judgments collected. Their judgments now total over 170 million dollars.

Keith also knows the value of education and speaks regularly for the Arizona State Bar, Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education as well as the Attorney General's Office, Victim's Services. He also offers externship opportunities to law and paralegal students, where they can learn to utilize the power of the civil justice system.

As one of his clients once said "He makes one realize that there are attorneys who, when taking the oath, not only mean it, they actually live it. He is a fine example of what other should strive for."

2006 Award

Hon. Colin Campbell is devoted to improving the justice system to promote equal access irrespective of financial means. Judge Campbell represents a tireless advocate for the improvement of Arizona's judicial system and for promoting public awareness of the public's right of access to justice. Judge Campbell's role as a representative of the judiciary has been characterized by his consistent and persuasive participation in activities of the Arizona Judicial Council, the State Federal Judicial Council, and as a member of the board of the Arizona Judicial College. His is also a dutiful volunteer serving on six boards and committees in the past including: Past board member and President of Community Legal Services and Past board member and President of Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education, to name a few. Judge Campbell has also been instrumental in promoting the publication of a booklet entitled "When You Turn 18", which serves as a valuable resource for teenagers by explaining laws that will pertain to them as they reach the 'legal' age..

Inaugural 2005 Award

Scott Bales